13 November-Defibrillator

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A defibrillator is a device that sends an electric shock to the heart to restore the normal heartbeat. It is used in the treatment of life-threatening cardiac conditions. It can be external or implanted in the body. Research carried out by cardiologist Paul Zoll led to the development of the defibrillator.

Paul Zoll was a cardiologist and medical researcher who was a native of the USA. He is referred to as the Father of Cardiac Electrotherapy for his pioneering work in the development of the cardiac defibrillator. His research also led the improvement of pacemakers, and other cardiac devices.

Paul Maurice Zoll was born in Boston, Massachusetts on July 15^th 1911. Having graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1936 he worked in hospitals in New York and Boston. Whilst working as a cardiologist during World War II he became interested in how the heart responded to the slightest touch.

When the war was over Zoll returned to Boston. He began to develop methods to treat heart attacks without opening the chest. At Beth Israel Hospital in 1952 he restated the hearts of two patients via electrodes on the chest. His discovery led to the development of the defibrillator. The use of the defibrillator became common in ambulances and emergency rooms.

Paul Zoll, cardiologist and medical researcher, became the first person to use electric shock to treat cardiac arrest at Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, in the year 1952 On This Day.

Photo by Cliff Johnson

03 July-Tourism Ireland

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The Brownshill Dolmen and Altamont Gardens in Carlow, Ireland; Jerpoint Abbey, St.Canice’s Cathedral and Kilkenny’s Medieval Mile in Kilkenny are just some of the attractions in Ireland’s Ancient East. Ireland’s Ancient East is an initiative by Fáilte Ireland which focusses on the cultural assets in the East and Southeast of Ireland. It is designed to attract an increased number of tourists to the region. The ‘journey of discovery’ stretches from Newgrange in County Meath through the Midlands and the Southeast to Cork.

Tourism, which has a long history in Ireland, is today an important national industry. The €4.3 billion industry employs close to 200,000 people catering for millions of tourists annually. The island of Ireland is promoted as a tourist destination by Tourism Ireland Ltd. Prior to 1998 this function was carried by Bórd Fáilte Éireann in the Republic of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board in Northern Ireland.

The standards of hospitality of which the tourist of today can avail were however not always available. On a visit to Ireland around 1770 a travel writer, Mr Arthur Young, observed that there was a ‘want of accommodations and extravagant expense of strangers residing in Killarney…the inns are miserable and the lodgings little better’.

Modern tourism in Ireland dates back to the beginning of the 20th century with the passing of the Tourist Traffic Act of 1939. The act established an Irish Tourist Board with responsibility for marketing Ireland and improving facilities for tourists. Further initiatives followed leading eventually to the establishment of the Irish Tourism Association. This led to the establishment of Bord Fáilte Eireann in 1955 following the enactment of the Tourist Traffic Act of that year.

The Irish Tourism Association was established in the year 1952 On This Day

Photo by IrishFireside

Tourism Ireland in China by IrishFireside on 2009-04-09 03:59:28

Carlow Dolmen photo

Browneshill Dolmen, Carlow

Photo by IrishFireside

04 June-Ciaran Fitzgerald

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Ciaran Fitzgerald is a native of Galway. He was a member of the Ireland National Rugby Union team from 1979 to 1986. During that time Fitzgerald played 25 times for Ireland. He was captain when Ireland won the Five Nations Championship in 1983. Fitzgerald was also captain of the Lions team which toured New Zealand in 1983.

Ciaran Fitzgerald was born in Loughrea, Co Galway in 1952. He was educated at Garbally College where he played as hooker for the school team. He also played minor hurling for Galway. He graduated with degree in commerce from University College Galway in 1973 and served as an officer in the Army.

Fitzgerald played his first game for Ireland against Australia in 1979. He went on to play for Ireland on 22 competitive and three friendly occasions. During his playing career Ireland won the Triple Crown in 1982 and 1985 and the Five Nations Championship in 1983. He received his final international cap against Scotland at Lansdowne Road in 1986.

Ciaran Fitzgerald, who was a member of the Ireland National Rugby Union team from 1979 to 1986 was born in the year 1952 On This Day.

Ciaran Fitzgerald

Photo courtesy NUIG Rugby Club

25 February-Joey Dunlop

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Joey Dunlop was a native of Northern Ireland. He was a world champion motorcyclist who won the TT (Tourist Trophy) Formula One world title on five consecutive occasions (1982-1986). Dunlop is widely regarded as one of the most popular and most successful motorcyclist racers of all time. He died at the age of 48 while leading a race in Tallinn, Estonia on July 2^nd 2000.

William Joseph Dunlop was born in Ballymoney, Co Antrim in 1952. He began racing in 1969 and made his Isle of Man debut in 1976. He went on to win 26 races in total on the Isle of Man. He also won the Ulster Grand Prix 24 times and the North West 200 13 times. In 1986 he was awarded the MBE for his services to motorcycling. He was also awarded and OBE for his humanitarian work in 1996.

Joey Dunlop, world champion motorcyclist from Co Antrim, Northern Ireland was born in the year 1952 On This Day.

Photo by stevet955i

Joey Dunlop

Photo by K4renD

08 February-Queen Elizabeth II

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Queen Elizabeth II has reigned for longer than any other monarch in British history. In February 2017 she celebrated 65 years on the throne. Together with a full programme of engagements the Queen has also undertook many historic overseas visits. In 2011 Queen Elizabeth II became the first British Monarch to visit Ireland in 100 years.

Queen Elizabeth II was born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor in London on April 21^st 1926. She became Queen, on the death of her father George VI, on February 6th 1952. At the time Elizabeth and her husband Philip were on a tour of Kenya. The couple returned to England two days later where the accession proclamation was read. The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place on June 2nd 1953. She has reigned through a time of great change. Her personal popularity and public support for the monarchy remains high.

The accession proclamation of Queen Elizabeth II was read in the year 1952 On This Day.

Photo by BiblioArchives / LibraryArchives

Queen Elizabeth II